John shook his head and said “I’m more worried the vessel is being held by someone now. Apollo has nothing to do with plant life…we need to find them fast” he started to get up but when he got to his feet he regretted it and swayed

Serena looked up and said “we need to figure out why they would grab them here? What’s the link…”

Kay sighed when John went into his usual routine of insisting on doing everything now. When he got up and swayed, she instantly stood up and made him sit back down. "And neither of you are in any fit state to do anything. All you're going to be doing is getting yourselves killed." she said to him firmly but with concern in her tone as well for his health.

"I don't know what the link could be but if it'll make you feel better and Bane is able to, I can go with him back to where we found you two and see if we can get any clues on this situation" Kay suggested, "whilst you two stay here with Sam and let yourselves recover and if either of you think I'm stubborn and a pain in the arse for making you both rest, you ain't seen nothing yet. Sam is so much worse than me" she added, looking back up at Sam who gave a firm nod, "Oh sooooo much worse than Kay will ever be" Sam confirmed.

John shook his head said “your not going alone…I am coming with you” Bane looked over and said “I can go with her John. She will be safe with me” John shook his head again and it made him light headed.

Serena looked up and said “John you took a bad hit…”

Kay looked at John when he told her about not going alone. She didn't plan on it so when Bane said he would go with her, she gave John the look of 'see, I won't be alone', but it wasn't working initially. She could see how light headed he was feeling and she could feel his weak state through their bond. "John, I need you to stay with Sam and Serena. You're in no fit state to be out there with me and if you come along I will be more worried about you and put myself in twice as much danger. Bane will be with me for backup. We got this...trust me to come back to you" She told him, placing a hand on his hand. "Please" she added.

Sam watched her sister with John and she could see how genuine her affections were toward this man. Kay rarely cared about anyone, but this was true affection toward him. "if she says she can do this with Bane, then she can do this" Sam told him. She may not know about this magic world like the group in front of her did, but she knew her sister. She knew how resilient Kay was and if Kay survived for as long as she did on her own before finding John, then she trusted Kay could do this task.

John rested a hand on her cheek and said “Kay I don’t want to risk your safety…both of us were fine and we got jumped…” Serena sat up more and said “John, sit down. Your shaking and still hurting. If I hurt then you are worse then I am…”

Bane folded his arms and said “John, calm down. I am the right hand of the goddess Nyx, I think I can protect her just fine”

With John's hand on her cheek, Kay leaned into his hold. She understood his worry, it was how she felt about him in this very moment and the moment she got the alert through their bond that he was hurt. She nodded her agreement with what both Serena and Bane were telling him. "Listen to me, when you got hurt out there, our bond told me so. It lead me to you, and if anything happens to me it will tell you as well." she tried to reassure him.

"I fully trust Bane to keep me safe as well as Fee. Now I need you to trust me. So please, trust that I can do this" she pleaded softly. She lifted her own hand up to his cheek and leaned in to kiss his lips before pulling away and looking at him in the eyes.

John sighed and said “Kay I know you can handle anything…I just hate to think what could happen…” Bane moved over and rested a hand on his shoulder. “John…your tapped out. You going out there isn’t a good idea…you need to rest and recover. Even Serena sees that”

Serena sighed and sat up more. “John, what did you see when the vines had you?” Bane turned back snd she added “the vines didn’t just drain us. They used nightmares against us to keep us from fighting back…John really you have to push past it”

Hearing John express such worry for her made her equally feel wanted and loved, but it also broke her heart as she didn't think anyone outside of family could have ever grown to feel so strongly about her. She was thankful that Bane was having her back on this however.

With Serena speaking up, she looked over at the other woman, curious to what she had to say and when she said about them getting nightmares implanted in their minds, it all suddenly made more sense why John didn't want her going out there. Turning back to John, she looked at him, "you saw me getting hurt...didnt you?" she assumed. "or worse" she added, looking at their hands then back up at his eyes.

John looked down and muttered “yes…that I wasn’t there and you were taken…to hell. That I couldn’t get you back…then they twisted you into a living weapon…turned Fee and you into a monster…and that it was all my fault…I saw you killing Chas and Sam…and then fighting Serena who was the only one who could match you…it was too much…”

Serena sighed and looked at Sam. “Ya, it wasn’t fun. I’m used to nightmares since that’s what part of my job is…I felt his when we were under the vines power and I tried to get to him…”

Kay listened to him admit what he saw and went slightly wide eyed. His nightmare was one of her own, just with added details and she instantly hugged him tightly but not so tight that she would hurt him. "oh John..." she said, as Serena looked toward Sam who looked even more in shock.

Sam didn't even know who this Fee was but what John was describing sounded beyond awful. She covered her mouth with her hand as she let the shock overtake her for a moment before looking at Serena. "you're both safe now...thats the main thing" she eventually managed to say to Serena.

"John I'm not going to let anyone or anything take me to Hell. Especially with Bane by my side. I'm coming back to you, no matter what. But...if you'd rather I'd stay here with you and we think up another plan then we'll do that. I'm never going to leave you, I swear."shhe said to him, cupping his face in her hand and stroking his cheek with her thumb.

John closed his eyes and said weakly “no…we need to find that lost soul…and I can’t hold you back. It’s my nightmare…not truth…” he was shaking worse now and Serena tried to get up. “John? Breath man.” He was breathing harder now, holding Kay to his chest.

Bane frowned and said “Kay, get him to sit. I think his having a panic attack”

Kay could see how worked up he was getting and recognised the signs all too well. "come on John, breathe with me, in..... And out" she said, taking in a deep breath, holding it then exhaling trying to make him do the same as he held her close to him. She guided him to sit down again, making him look at her. "in.... And out..." she said again as she made him breathe with her.

Sam rushed to the kitchen to get a glass of water for when the panic attack would subside for him, coming back with it in her hand, then putting it on the table between the two couches. She felt so proud of Kay for being able to just help John without a second thought. It reminded her of how Kay would always defend her to the homophobes in bars or school, not holding back with her choice of words to close minded people.

"John you got this, just keep taking deep breaths for me. I'm here, I'm always going to be here" Kay reminded him.

John fought to breath evenly but his whole body was shaking now. He closed his eyes trying to focus as Serena flinched and tried to move to help. “Easy John…just breath…I know those visions felt as real as life but they weren’t…just nightmares pulled from the darkness…”

Kay continued to stay beside him and rubbed his back soothingly, "she's right. They weren't real... Nothing is going to tear me away from you. Ever. The shaking will stop if you can focus on your breathing, trust me. I'm right here" she continued to speak softly and calmly, focusing her calm on seeing if she could make it go from her bond sigil to his.

"I'm right here" she said again, not wanting to move until she was certain John was out of this panic attack.

John started to calm down after a few minutes, Serena sitting up and holding her head in pain. “There we go…don’t worry John. It’s going to be alright. But we need more answers. We must find the vessel and fast”

Bane nodded and said “I can send the shadows to scout out the area for now then if fhey find something then we can go look. I don’t think we should leave these two alone just yet…the attack may have other side affects we haven’t seen yet…”

Kay agreed with Serena and Bane, she wanted to do her part in finding the vessel for Apollo but she also didn't like leaving John in such a vulnerable state. "sounds like our best bet for now." she said, leaning forward and grabbing the glass of water, placing it in John's hands. "sip this. I'm not going anywhere okay? I'm staying here until the shadows find something. I won't leave you" she told him.

Sam watched them all, still finding everything they were talking about mind boggling, and the only thing she could truly cokprehend was John's panic attack and Serena's injuries.

Bane nodded and moved to a shadow on the floor and his eyes glowed. “Find the other vessel of the heavens…return when you have news” the shadows moved and vanished. Serena was in her feet worried about John when a few steps made her stop and hiss thru her teeth, her head swimming as she stumbled backward.

John drank from the glass then looked up. “Sorry love…never had this happen before…”

Sam looked over when Serena went to get up but stumbled backwards. She quickly walked over and helped Serena sit back down. "take it easy, you need rest as well" she told her. "Kay has it under control for John" shhe added.

"don't know if I should be worried or flattered you're getting this worked up over me" Kay told him, trying to make a little joke to try and cheer him up a bit. "but don't be sorry, we all need a comforting hand at some point" she added.

John ran his fingers thru his hair as his breathing finally started to calm down. He looked at her and said “true…” Serena smiled at Sam and nodded her thanks as she leaned forward and held her head. Bane walked back over and said “well it will take time for the shadows to hunt. Shall we rest and plan our next move? And make sure these two don’t over do it till their strength returns?”

Kay glanced at Sam comforting Serena which she smiled at, seeing that after all this time she really hasn't changed. Sam caught Kay looking and gave her a small smile back before looking up at Bane returning with a suggestion for what to do. "I think that's our best bet" Kay replied, "anyone in need of a drink or food whilst you wait for updates?" Sam asked around the room.

"that'd be great, thanks Sam. I'll have a coffee if you got it in and please say you still keep a large stash of cookies" Kay commented, remembering her sister's love for the food. "of course I do!" Sam smiled, standing up. "anyone else?" she asked.